Anyone else skipping (or thinking about it) Parent Teacher Conferences?

[Anonymous]

Some teachers will convert the meetings to phone calls

[Anonymous]

3 hours plus driving time? WTH?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get more out of your conference by emailing the teacher a specific question ahead of time. At least two weeks is best. This gives the teacher time to take a note. Stick to one specific question, as this time of year is chaotic. As a teacher, I always appreciated knowing how to make that time valuable to the parent.

Hi Mrs. Smith. At our upcoming conference, I would like to talk about Larla’s friends at recess. She reports that Larlo is “ mean” to her, but I know she tends to interpret things differently than adults would. Would you keep an eye on her this week, and let me know if I need to call Larlo’s mom? I look forward to seeing you on the third.

Please don't do that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3 hours plus driving time? WTH?

I don’t get to see you there. Please explain the specifics of the situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3 hours plus driving time? WTH?

I don’t get to see you there. Please explain the specifics of the situation.

That should say get this either.

[Anonymous]

Skipping is super disrespectful to the teacher and your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All these parents who skip conferences are then going to come on here complaining that their teachers don’t give the kids attention. If their parents don’t care why should the teachers?

This. So many self-important idiots on this thread. It’s truly pathetic.

[Anonymous]

My parents teachers conference literally took just two minutes . Teacher showed my kid’s report card, where the reading level is at, some of the class works and said things are on track. Then nicely sent me out...makes me wonder why need to schedule a 20 minutes conference

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All these parents who skip conferences are then going to come on here complaining that their teachers don’t give the kids attention. If their parents don’t care why should the teachers?

This. So many self-important idiots on this thread. It’s truly pathetic.

Let us know what actionable items you've walked away from a parent teacher conference with and how you put them into place.

Here's a hot tip for you. If your child sucks at math: practice math facts!
If your child sucks at reading or writing: read more!
Handwriting sucks? Practice!

I've never heard of anything beyond the basic bs from a parent teacher conference that a parent could actually take initiative on

Total waste of time

[Anonymous]

I have not done it yet, but thought about asking to do a phone call, instead of meeting in person. I am sure that would be fine too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All these parents who skip conferences are then going to come on here complaining that their teachers don’t give the kids attention. If their parents don’t care why should the teachers?

This. So many self-important idiots on this thread. It’s truly pathetic.

Let us know what actionable items you've walked away from a parent teacher conference with and how you put them into place.

Here's a hot tip for you. If your child sucks at math: practice math facts!
If your child sucks at reading or writing: read more!
Handwriting sucks? Practice!

I've never heard of anything beyond the basic bs from a parent teacher conference that a parent could actually take initiative on

Total waste of time

+1,000. Realistically, how much action can even be decided upon during a rushed 15 minute conference.

[Anonymous]

This thread makes me hate DC parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get more out of your conference by emailing the teacher a specific question ahead of time. At least two weeks is best. This gives the teacher time to take a note. Stick to one specific question, as this time of year is chaotic. As a teacher, I always appreciated knowing how to make that time valuable to the parent.

Hi Mrs. Smith. At our upcoming conference, I would like to talk about Larla’s friends at recess. She reports that Larlo is “ mean” to her, but I know she tends to interpret things differently than adults would. Would you keep an eye on her this week, and let me know if I need to call Larlo’s mom? I look forward to seeing you on the third.

Please don't do that!

+1

I know the above is well intended but the teacher will think you are a weirdo if you put it his way. Better to bring it up at the conference and follow up sometime after the conference if needed.

[Anonymous]

Never. I'm not a helicopter parent by any means, but I want to know what DCs are good at, what they struggle with, and most importantly, I always ask how I can help support the teacher and what she is trying to accomplish at home. They seem to appreciate the question. Maybe it doesn't matter, but frankly I also want to be know as a parent who is involved and cares about her kids' education.

It may be luck of the draw, but I haven't ever been to a PT conference that was not informative. I also push the teachers a bit though to go beyond "she/he is doing well." They are always up to the task and get specific and give good feedback on what can be improved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never. I'm not a helicopter parent by any means, but I want to know what DCs are good at, what they struggle with, and most importantly, I always ask how I can help support the teacher and what she is trying to accomplish at home. They seem to appreciate the question. Maybe it doesn't matter, but frankly I also want to be know as a parent who is involved and cares about her kids' education.

It may be luck of the draw, but I haven't ever been to a PT conference that was not informative. I also push the teachers a bit though to go beyond "she/he is doing well." They are always up to the task and get specific and give good feedback on what can be improved.

This is my experience, too. The basic presentation is barely worthwhile, but follow-up questions yield useful insight. For one kid, my concerns are mostly social, so it's helpful to hear observations about the playground, for instance.